Reply With QuoteThere is no argument here, what the GM says goes. That's also in the rules alongside no god-modding.
They're middle and low class, and a comfortable life sits in front of them, you really think they're going to stay their hands and not take so much money because of ethical reasons?
There is no argument here, what the GM says goes. That's also in the rules alongside no god-modding.
As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another.
"We are running blindly into violent
Lifeless surroundings! Can we finally
Right this? Or just slightly unbind
ourselves from the nightmare. Will you dare to FIGHT!
Or collapse and invite the destruction. The future
Of man is a cycle.
Will you dare to fight...
We rebuild tonight!"
- BOO....Open you eyes, Find you own truths, Bind together, and Become strong in your Virtue and Bonds
Together with that, we will right our many wrongs, and change this world.
The possibility and the actuality are two discerning factors here; unless the Head Magician regularly makes public appearances that don't involve child kicking and general cruelty, no one of right minds, poor or not, would want to work for someone who is just as likely to kill them once they have fulfilled their purpose. Adding to that, other then looking impressive in full armor and generally seeming like a powerful and evil person, no one could be really sure if that man is really the Head Magician. Like I said, unless the Head magician also makes regular appearances, not many people would know his face. The reason we today know the faces of our world leaders (or at least the world leader of your respective countries) is because of a massive government funded media empire. It would be assumed in a fantasy settling like this, the only way any commoner would see the face of his king or emperor is through public art (Which will embellish their appearance) or their coins. Other wise, only a very selective few would know the face of someone like the Head Magician, who isn't quite as famous as an Emperor. So even if he does have the money to back up the claim, no one would really know that; if all it took was to make part of a whole city go crazy was some guy in scary armor being a bully and claiming that some strong-willed woman was a fugitive, this wouldn't be a city, it'd be a battle ground. There's a fine line between a ghetto and a war zone, and it's typically about how gullible people are.
Not only that, but any one who is desperate enough to believe such a claim would have to deal with an Orc, everyone else dumb or desperate enough to try, Lucilia, and a small gang of rather skilled thugs who Lucilia had contacted not too long ago. Remember that thing she went with the beggar for? Let's just say that she's being followed by a well armed group of men and women who's best interest is to take her alive, but not for the benefit of the Head Magician.
No one has to be a genius to see the whole scene as rather ridiculous, and only the very desperate or those really loyal to the Emperor (Which is unlikely if these are only the middle and lower class as you say) would try. Even the gullible people wouldn't try, since I'm having Lucilia also convince them not to do anything, and she has skills in Speechcraft. In the end, stupidity is the only option.
I'm not trying to ague or god mod, as I'm not trying to control anyone important. I'm just playing up the skills my characters have to reach a goal that I find most suitable. Karnage couldn't hurt the Head Magician to free Lucilia, and instead had to hurt her a little bit. And Lucilia lacks the power to blow everyone away, so she'll need to talk her way out. But like I said, if stupidly is the only option, then I'll let you allow the mob to attack or whatever. Karnage and Lucilia will have to fight and escape however possible within the realms of their ability.
Last edited by Lucius Cypher; 01-22-2013 at 01:43 PM.
Have you ever tried to talk to a person who is extremely hungry while they are in the presence of a feast? It's like trying to get a group of rabid dogs to share a bone. Similarly, someone who is starving will do anything NOT to be starving. The head magician (Aldek) is known fairly well throughout the empire, especially in larger cities, because he is one of the very few higher figures that frequently visits for either his or the emperor's business. Velais rarely travels in the empire for various reasons, which is why he was not aware that Aldek was the head magician.
Thus it would be quite evident that Aldek would have the money to back up his claim, and if his word was not enough, he's wearing high-class clothing chased with gold, along with armor, which is extremely expensive.
IF you were poor, just to state my point, and someone dangled the possibility of a fortune in front of your face, you would obviously grab for it. And in desperate situations you would pursue that even if it were an immediate threat to your well-being. Outside general civilians, cities are frequented by mercenaries and other forms of muscle for hire, so they are now roused as well by the scent of gold.
Another note, the only area where poverty would not be prevalent in a large city would be in the wealthy districts. In all other areas, including market districts, it would be fairly obvious. I think that is enough supporting evidence. The crowd wants money, that's that.
It still bothers me that Lucilia was put into this position. Granted, there was little choice on my end, by I guess that's the point, isn't it? All I wanted to do was get Karnage to the Manor with Lucilia meeting up with him after her mysterious meeting. Then I get roped into going face-to-face with one of the big villains of this plot. But to answer your questions:
Yes, I have. They typically go for the easy to eat food, like potatoes and soups, because the moment they tried to go for those fancy steaks and deserts, their stomachs churn cause they tried to eat something their body isn't able to handle. The point of that example relates to another thing I said; currently guarding Lucilia is an angry Orc. An orc who had the balls to stand up to the Head Magician. Short or not, unless the whole mob plans to bare down on her, no one but someone not scrawny and skinny is going to attack. And Mercs shouldn't be around here unless they're on business; no paying customers in the poor ghettos. Even if they are around, starving dogs won't try to take down someone/something unless they either have enough other starving dogs or the target seems weak enough. Which I also want to bring back the whole "People feel nausea and dying around Lucilia" part I wrote up a couple of post ago. That's important. There's still the issue that, even if the Head magician is well known, if he's also known for kicking little poor kids around just because they happen to be in his path, why would any other poor smuck think he would be willing to hand them that much gold? It'd be easier if they were just killed, as no one will miss them. Unless they were really stupid, which is the only reason why anyone would attack; they'd have to be dumb enough to fight an orc, a woman who smells of death, and then hope that a unnecessarily cruel Magician doesn't just off them so he can shirk out on paying someone a bunch of gold and/or use their corpse and soul to fuel his own plans.
Even rabid animals have enough sense to formulate crude plans and be aware of danger. I don't expect Lucilia to get out of the town unless I do some careful planning, but that necessarily mean that they're suicidal. Even those "I got nothing to lose" types would hesitant, cause now there's something to lose; their life to get riches beyond their dreams. An opportunity like that doesn't come around a lot, but it won't be as simple as going and just taking it. they'll plan, think, but before they'll be done, Lucilia would have already left. She already has a plan to get out; talking her way out was just a means to get some time. If she has ti fight, she has a plan. If they let her walk, she has a plan still. And they don't involve other parties that are already after her, or outside influences like your hero and his giant, which might give everyone else some pause since he made his presence cleared with a grunt.
I've said my piece. If they're still going to attack, then I'll let you have them go at it. I'm just trying to provide evidence too.
Last edited by Lucius Cypher; 01-22-2013 at 02:47 PM.
They're not trying to kill you, they're trying to apprehend you. If that wasn't evident, it is now. I figured you'd want to be involved in the main plot, like most people do. It's always darkest before dawn, don't jump to conclusions just yet, just wait and see.
Try as they might, they won't succeed, for reasons that I hope are acceptable. I don't mind getting into the plot, but I would prefer it on my own terms at least. After all, I would like to not have to regret giving Lucilia the ability of a Silver Tongue if everything can only be solved with combat. I wanted to make someone who could talk her way out of a bad situation, not have to rely on OP powers or plot armor. Not that I don't mind having both, I just don't want them to be my Plan A, you know? If we lose out weapons or can't use magic, I'm hoping that Lucilia can use her speech craft to at least give her some time to get out of an otherwise horrible predicament.
I didn't intend for them to succeed, exactly opposite actually
I do have a plan. So you can rest assured knowing that I would not treat any characters unfairly for no reason. I intended for you to escape or use other methods to get out of your current situation, I just had to stop you before you decided to start a full-out rebellion. I needed a way to rope you into the main story line, and the fact that Aldek prefers to use attractive females for his sacrificial rituals seemed perfect. I never intended for him to kill you, or even capture you, but I did intend for him to have an interest in your character because she keeps eluding him.
It says it right there in the description, I will not treat any characters unfairly or kill characters without cause, so no need to think I would.
Sorry, I just have to make sure there's a plan in the event that there is a possibility that my characters would be killed. There only so much I can rely on with someone else word. I don't know how well I can control the situation, but I'd at least want to be in control of my characters, but when it seems that is also out of my hands, I have to do something drastic.
Posting Permissions
